Do I Need a New Roof Before Installing Solar?

It depends on your roof’s age and condition. If your roof is older than 15 years or showing signs of wear, you should replace it before installing solar panels on your roof. If it’s newer and in good shape, you can install solar right away.

Here’s why this matters: solar panels last 25-30 years. If you install them on an old roof that needs replacement in five years, you’ll pay $3,000-5,000 to remove the panels, replace the roof, and reinstall everything. That’s money you could have saved by doing the roof first.

When You Should Replace Your Roof First

Your roof’s age tells most of the story. Asphalt shingles, the most common roofing material in Michigan, typically last 20-25 years. If your roof is 15 years old or more, replace it before going solar.

Look for these warning signs:

• Missing, curling, or cracked shingles
• Granules collecting in gutters
• Sagging or soft spots
• Water stains on ceilings
• Daylight visible through roof boards

Any of these mean your roof needs work before solar panels go up.

The math is straightforward. Removing and reinstalling a typical 8 kW solar system costs $3,000-5,000. That’s pure waste if you could have replaced the roof first. Plus, you lose power production during the weeks your system is down.

When Strawberry Solar assesses your home, we check your roof carefully. We won’t install solar on a roof that needs replacement soon. That creates problems for you and complications for us down the road. An honest assessment up front saves everyone time and money.

When Your Roof is Fine for Solar

If your roof is under 10 years old and well-maintained, you’re good to go. Solar panels can go up without any roofing work.

Even roofs between 10-15 years old often work fine for solar, depending on condition. A roof that’s been properly maintained, with no damage or wear, can easily support panels for another 15-20 years. Your installer will check for structural integrity, water damage, and overall condition before making a recommendation.

Solar panels actually protect the roof sections they cover. They shield shingles from UV rays, rain, and hail. The covered portions often last longer than exposed areas. Your roof still needs to be in good shape before installation, but the panels help preserve what’s underneath.

Roof Types and Solar Installation

Asphalt shingles are the easiest and most common for solar installation. Mounting hardware attaches directly to rafters without compromising the roof. This is what most Michigan homes have.

Metal roofing is excellent for solar. It lasts 40-70 years, so you’ll never worry about roof replacement during your panels’ lifetime. Installation uses clamps that don’t penetrate the roof surface, reducing leak risk.

Tile roofs require more care during installation. Tiles are fragile and need special handling. The installation takes longer and costs more, but it’s absolutely doable.

Flat roofs need ballasted or tilted mounting systems. The panels sit on frames rather than lying flush, which actually works well for optimizing sun angle. Just make sure the roof can handle the additional weight.

The Cost of Doing It Wrong

Installing solar on an old roof creates a expensive problem. When that roof fails in a few years, you’re paying for:

• Panel removal: $1,500-2,500
• Roof replacement: $8,000-15,000 (typical Michigan home)
• Panel reinstallation: $1,500-2,500
• Lost production: Several weeks of no solar power

That’s $11,000-18,000 total instead of just $8,000-15,000 if you’d done the roof first.

Warranty complications add to the headache. Your solar warranty might not cover removal and reinstallation. Your new roof warranty might be voided if solar work damages anything during reinstallation. You’re coordinating two different contractors instead of one project manager.

What Happens During a Roof Assessment

Every solar quote from Strawberry Solar includes a free roof inspection. We check your roof’s age, condition, and structural integrity before designing your system.

We look at shingle condition, flashing around vents and chimneys, decking integrity, and any signs of water damage or sagging. We also verify that your roof structure can support the additional weight of solar panels (usually 2-4 pounds per square foot).

If we spot potential issues, we’ll tell you honestly. Sometimes a roof just needs minor repairs before solar installation. Other times, replacement makes more sense. We’d rather have that conversation up front than create problems later.

Getting a second opinion is always fine. If you’re unsure about our assessment, have a roofer take a look. We want you confident in your decision.

Combining Roof Replacement with Solar Installation

Doing both projects together makes financial sense. You save money on labor since crews are already on site. Scaffolding and equipment get used for both jobs. Project management is simpler with one timeline instead of two separate contractors.

Many homeowners finance both projects together, spreading the cost over the same loan term. The federal solar tax credit (30% through 2032) can apply to roof work if it’s done specifically to support solar installation.

You get warranties for both systems starting at the same time. Everything is new, documented, and covered. There’s no confusion about which contractor is responsible if issues come up.

Strawberry Solar works with quality roofing contractors when roof replacement is needed. We coordinate the work so your roof goes on first, then solar installation follows immediately. You deal with us as the primary contact, and we manage the roofing partner.

How Strawberry Solar Handles Roof Concerns

We give honest assessments without pressure. If your roof needs replacement, we’ll tell you. If it’s fine for another 15 years, we’ll tell you that too. Our reputation depends on installations that last, not on pushing through projects that create future problems.

When roof replacement is needed, we connect you with experienced roofing contractors we trust. We coordinate timing so both projects flow smoothly. You’re not juggling multiple contractors or trying to schedule around different timelines.